Air France staff discovered an unaccompanied bag aboard a flight to Paris. The pilot was ordered to divert to St. John's International Airport, Newfoundland, Canada, when Air France ground staff in New York compared luggage and passenger lists and found a passenger was not on the plane. The 268 passengers and crew were evacuated. The flight resumed three hours later after the search found nothing suspicious. Air France said there was a misunderstanding with a passenger who canceled his flight after the company told him he would be charged for extra baggage. His bags were pulled, but one bag made it on board. [1/01/2004]Source: Airport Security Report

John F. Kennedy Int'l Airport, New York

An Air France pilot's checked baggage set off an alarm as it passed through an explosives-detection system. The pilot told screeners his bag was going to cause an explosion aboard the aircraft. The flight was to leave JFK for Paris. Screeners cleared the bag and allowed the pilot to continue toward his aircraft. Screeners then informed officers from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey of the pilot's remarks. Officers caught the pilot who had already boarded and escorted him off for questioning. The Queens County District Attorney's office declined to prosecute, and the pilot was released. The flight was canceled, delaying the trips of 254 passengers. [10/24/2003]Source: Airport Security Report

John F. Kennedy Int'l Airport, New York

A family traveling to Phoenix notified an American Airlines flight attendant that a knife in one of their carry-on bags made it through security at JFK in New York. The flight attendant took the steak knife with a 4-inch blade and gave it to the captain. The flight continued normally, and the family, after questioning in St. Louis, continued its journey. [11/12/2002]Source: Airport Security Report

John F. Kennedy Int'l Airport, New York

A family found a homemade box cutter in their carry-on luggage after returning from vacation. They had purchased the bag, which had previously been returned to the store by another customer, before flying to West Palm Beach, Fla. After finding the box cutter, the family contacted TSA at both Kennedy and the Palm Beach airport. TSA at Kennedy never returned the call. Palm Beach International Airport 's TSA called five days later. [4/03/2004]Source: The Journal News (Westchester County, N.Y.)

La Guardia Airport, New York

A traveler set off a walk-through metal detector. The woman should have been screened again with a hand wand, but instead left the checkpoint and walked into the concourse. Screeners were unable to locate her. Officials evacuated the terminal, and passengers were rescreened. Around 10 flights were delayed for two hours. [12/24/2003]Source: Airport Security Report

La Guardia Airport, New York

TSA screeners detected a possible weapon in a carry-on bag during an X-ray scan. Screeners grabbed a bag and searched it before recognizing they had the wrong bag. By then, the passenger had recovered the suspicious bag and entered the concourse. Officials evacuated the terminal, searched the concourse and rescreened 1,500 Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines passengers. No weapons were found. [5/11/2003]Source: Airport Security Report

LaGuardia Airport, New York

After a shift change, a screener reported seeing the image of a knife remaining on an X-ray monitor used by earlier screeners. The Delta Air Lines terminal was evacuated and some flights were delayed. All passengers were rescreened. No knife was found. [11/06/2002]Source: Airport Security Report

LaGuardia Airport, New York

A woman passed through screening with a stun gun and knife in her handbag. She realized this while on the flight to Denver. She notified a flight attendant, and the pilot alerted Denver International Airport. Police met the plane at the gate. The woman was questioned and released. [1/25/2004]Source: Airport Security Report